I woke up with my body compressed. Pain crept into my back, a burn wound that had just been reopened. When I opened my eyes, I saw an old maid massaging ointment over my back the traditional way, looking sympathetic.
"You're finally awake, Ma'am," she whispered.
"How long was I out?" I spoke weakly, choking almost.
"About two days," she whispered.
I stood there rigid. Two days? My thoughts immediately flew to Julian.
Without thinking, I got up with trembling legs.
"Ma'am, please… you need to rest first," the maid attempted to restrain me.
But I did not hear her. I put on whatever I had available and rushed off.
When I arrived at the hospital, I rushed straight to the room Julian was in. But the bed was empty, the sheets already neatly folded.
I ran frantically to the nearest nurse.
"Where is my son?! Julian? He was in this room before." I was shaking.
The nurse's eyes widened, then she inclined her head slowly.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Your child wasn't rescued. And he's not here anymore… He was taken away by a woman."
My heart nearly dropped with tears streaming from my eyes.
"No! Tell me that's not true!
I trembled the nurse's body. My legs were weak, not strong enough to hold me up. I shouted, sobbing, not able to keep inside the scorching pain, the remorse creeping within. At the moment my child had died, I was not with him.
The nurse touched my back very softly, trying to calm me.
"Who took my child away from me?" I screamed in a quivering voice.
The nurse swallowed, and went on to say very softly.
"She is Clara."
I got up immediately and grabbed the phone, not to delay.
"Where is my child's body?!" I blurted out without hesitation.
Clara's laughter echoed from the other end. Chilly and ruthless.
"Ah… so you just remembered that you have a kid," she snarled. "Don't worry. I'll inform you, but first, you have to come to my birthday party."
"I'm not joking, Clara! Stop playing around!”
"Neither do I. If you want to see your child's body, then come."
She hesitated before resuming in a jeering tone,
"And don't forget to wear a decent dress. Although I know that you don't have one. But at least… don't make a fool of yourself."
The phone cut off abruptly. I closed my eyes, struggling to gather my strength.
****
My steps entered the party hall, greeted by extravagant lights and soft classical music.
In the middle of the room, Clara was poised on the center stage in a stunning red gown. Matteo beside her, holding Nora with an innocent face, as a complete family. But to me, it was totally disgusting.
I edged slowly, making my way through the guests who were unaware of the hell I was enduring tonight.
Clara saw me. With a wide smile, she leapt off the stage and approached me in lovely steps, abandoning Matteo and Nora behind.
"I am here. So answer me, where is my child?" I barked.
Clara reached for a glass of champagne from a tray of a waiter and sipped it leisurely, as if she was watching a performance.
"Don't you wish me a happy birthday, Liora?" she said with sweetness, mockingly smiling on her lips.
I glared at her with an icy gaze.
"Happy birthday, Clara. I wish this was your last. and God takes you soon."
She burst out laughing, shattering my eardrums.
Then she clapped her hands three times. Two black-suited men emerged from behind a door, each holding a huge coffin. The party fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at them.
The coffin was placed right in front of me. My breath caught.
Clara turned to the guests who had begun whispering, then looked at me with triumphal eyes.
"And for my birthday gift this year, I'd like Liora to open it herself. It's her thing, after all." Clara's voice boomed out, commanding everyone's attention.
"Come on, Liora. Open it!" she said again, laughing nastily.
My hands trembled as they laid on the lid of the coffin. Then I hardened myself and opened it. My legs weakened.
Julian's corpse lay inside. His face was white and peaceful, as though he were sleeping. He wore a blue navy-colored shirt, one that was slightly too small. It was his favorite attire—Matteo gave it to him on his last birthday.
By then, my tears flowed unceasingly.
Clara relished my suffering. She whispered right behind me.
“Julian came to celebrate my birthday. Sad, isn’t it, Liora? He’s more useful dead than alive.”
I collapsed to my knees in front of the coffin, hugging its wooden edge with a trembling body. The guests stared at me, some holding their breath, others shuddering in horror.
I looked at Julian, my breath ragged, my lips quivering.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry…”
But Julian would never open his eyes ever again. He would never call me or hug me tight. All that had been taken away from me.
Including my dignity. Including my life.
And in the middle of that huge and boisterous birthday party, I shattered into pieces.
Clara hit her palms again. The guards advanced, beginning to close the coffin over Julian's corpse. I screamed and tried to stop them, but my body was too feeble. I hit the floor, hanging onto the rim of the coffin for all my might.
"Give me my child back! Don't take him away from me again!" I screamed, voice raw and emulsive.
Clara drew closer, then dropped to her knees before me. She gripped my hair roughly and forced me to look at her smug face.
"Calm down. I'll give you the body of your kid. But first. you have to keep my ex-husband entertained."
I shook my head weakly, my body trembling.
Clara smiled. "You see, I owe him big time. And because of that, he needs a woman to fulfill him. And I think. you're the one."
Guards began to drag me. I struggled, but to no use.
An enormous explosion on the central stage suddenly occurred. The shattering of glass, the blast, the cries of visitors filled the building.
Shooting was heard. Guards rushed away, visitors ran around frantically seeking an exit. Everything descended into pandemonium.
My body was stampeded by the crowd at once. Somebody kicked my shoulder. I bumped my head against the hard earth. Blood started flowing out of my temple.
Clara also fell nearby. Her dress was torn, her body covered with dust and wine stains.
"Help! Help me!" I shouted, expecting someone to save me.
And at this moment, Matteo arrived. I looked at him, my face full of hope.
"Matteo… help me…" I coughed, blood gushing out of my mouth.
But he just looked towards Clara. "I have to help Clara. She's pregnant with my child."
I stared at him in dismay. I should not have expected anything from Matteo, more so having just found out that he was the one who had gotten Clara pregnant.
Without looking back at me, Matteo lifted Clara's lifeless body and left, leaving me amidst the commotion.
I tried to crawl with vision fading. Then, indistinctly, a presence came close.
A person knelt beside me. His hands slowly lifted my body.
"Please… don't hurt me… let me go… " I whispered barely.
The man’s voice was calm and deep.
“Relax. I’m not going to hurt you. Your mother sent me to get you.”
I closed my eyes, taking a slow breath. The pain and blood in my mouth tasted bitter—but not as bitter as the rage burning in my chest.
“Wait for my revenge. I’ll make sure they bleed tears of blood when their moment of ruin comes, just as they destroyed my life and my child’s.”
He carried me toward the private jet, its engines roaring in the distance, taking me away—along with the last remnants of the woman I once was.
